The Milledgeville native wanted to return to northwest Illinois to teach, coach and perhaps one day become a school administrator. That was part of his plan immediately after high school.

"I knew the area, knew quite a few superintendents, and that's what I wanted to do," he said. "And I wanted to coach wherever I got a job."

Engelkens, a former three-sport athlete for the Missiles who graduated in 2009, is in his second year at Forreston where he teaches science and math. He's also one of several distinguished prep athletes that have returned to the area somewhat fresh from college to coach.

The Milledgeville alum is in his first season as Forreston's fresh-soph head coach, and has been an assistant varsity coach for football and basketball for two years.

He's a little more than 20 miles away from his hometown, but Engelkens feels right at home at Forreston.

"I really was planning on coming back to the area," the Illinois State University graduate said. "If I didn't get a job, I was going to (teach as a) sub and farm."

Erika Lawson isn't a teacher, but was interested in coaching after college. So the former Dakota basketball standout couldn't pass up the opportunity to be an assistant at her alma mater when asked by girls coach Kevin Cline.

"I always wanted to be a basketball coach, but I wasn't sure if time would allow for it," said Lawson, who has worked as a credit risk analyst for a little more than a year. "Cline asked me if I would help out as much as I could and I jumped on the opportunity."

"Basketball has always been my favorite sport and I want to help girls improve. I think that's been my favorite thing, seeing girls improve and enjoying the game."

Like Englekens, Scholl attended ISU and had a desire to come back home.

"I've lived out on the farm my whole life and I always wanted to come back," said Scholl, who graduated in May with a degree in agribusiness and works at a local bank. "I've watched these kids growing up and helped them out. They're a great group of guys to work with and the coaches have been really awesome."

Scholl and Engelkens, both friends and former conference rivals, were once again on opposing benches when Forreston and Polo played last Friday in an NUIC East matchup.

"Seeing him in the Forreston colors is a bit different than seeing him in Milledgeville colors," Scholl said. "We came out on top Friday night and our boys did real well. They'll be coming at us the next time we play them."

Page 2 of 2 - "It's weird seeing him on the sideline," Engelkens said. "We were playing against each other and now we're coaching against each other. Maybe one day we can be on the same sideline, but it's a fun time being a part of that."

Working with their respective head coaches has given them a deeper appreciation for the responsibilities of coaching.

"I appreciate now how much time he (Polo had coach Matt Messer) put in on and off the court and how much attention to detail that he had," Scholl said. "Being on the sideline, I really see the difference in that."

"I'm constantly learning from (Forreston coach) Jonathan (Schneiderman)," Engelkens said. "He's the smartest basketball junkie that I know. He'll say something and five seconds later, you're like 'Yep, I would have seen that too.'

"He just seems to pick up on stuff so quickly and I'm just learning what to scout, how to motivate better and different things like that."

Engelkens, Scholl and Lawson all had a desire to come back to their communities and coach in the area. All three took different paths. But all are making an impact on the sidelines as a way to give back.

"It's small communities in the area and all of them care about sports," Scholl said. "In high school, I wanted to do something for the community, and now as a coach, I want to give back to the community and help the kids coming through the high school."

"I just enjoy this area," Engelkens said. "I think we have some of the best football in the state, especially in Class 1A with all the championships we've had. With basketball, I have no reason to move."

"Now that I'm back in the area," Lawson said. "I'll be here for a long time, I think."